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farm:table

I wanted to go back to farm:table a second time before I wrote this post, but I also wanted to get a post up without any more waiting. I’ll try to go back soon and then I will update. I feel like this is necessary because I don’t think I got the whole experience on my visit. I didn’t even get any photos of the food or the interior! I went around 10 am on a Saturday morning. farm:table is TINY. I’d heard that it is really small, but I wasn’t prepared for just how small it is. The customer area is maybe 8′ by 8′ and most of that is taken up by a square wood table that is surrounded by benches. Each side of the table can fit two people comfortably, three if you are with your best friends and don’t mind rubbing thighs. The morning I was there I thought it was busy because there were six people at the table already. It turns out it was actually quiet that day; when I walked by the next week people seemed to be spilling out the window it was so packed.

farm:table has a daily changing breakfast and lunch menu (you can get updates on their twitter feed) and I was tempted to try their bread pudding or their hard boiled egg sandwich of the day, but I was deterred by the communal seating situation. It’s one this for me to sit and eat a muffin and have a coffee while sitting with my face just four feet from a stranger’s, but another thing entirely to try to eat a meal with a fork and knife and all. This is probably just me, but I’d be way too self conscious. I ordered what seemed to be the house special drink, the tendernob, and a buckwheat banana cake thing. The girls running the counter were super super sweet, and they did an amazing job with my drink. I didn’t catch all the components, but it was espresso, steamed milk and something else in a tiny glass cup, maybe four ounces? Anyway, it was the most velvety steamed milk I have ever had. It’s been a long time since I’ve had drink with hot milk because most places can’t make it for shit. This froth redeemed my faith in humanity. I think you could have put any sludge in that milk and I would have been okay with it, but of course they had a pretty lovely espresso too, very mellow with a definite floral end note. It was the perfect sip for a chilly San Francisco morning.

The little cake was slightly disappointing. The banana flavor was good, and it was moist on the outside, but the interior was dry. It was sticking to the inside of my mouth in a most unpleasant way. Even if it had been the best breakfast bread ever, I probably wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it fully because I just felt too awkward sitting at the communal table. I was all alone and hadn’t brought any activities with me, everyone else at the table was either there with friends or had a paper or book to read. I was just sitting there, eating my food, trying not to look at people…it’s just not my thing. I know plenty of people love this kind of seating, but I can’t get down with it, certainly not when I’m alone. As I left, I noticed two outside tables that I wish I’d seen on my way in. I would have been so much happier out there, even though it was pretty breezy.

I’d really like to try farm:table again, their menus always sound super delicious and I want to try their drip coffee and for sure the latte. If I can’t round up any dining companions, or if the people are packed in like sardines I guess I’ll have to inquire about their to go options.

Considering this place is about 30 seconds from our door, you’d think we would’ve gone by now. But honestly the hipsters spilling out the front door are a total turnoff. And they’re going to be sitting with me? No ma’am.

A couple of lives ago this location had some good, quiet meals. A great place to eat by yourself and read by the window. Then it was something shitty, and now we have this.

Thanks! One of the nice side effects of this project is that it’s forcing me to use my camera more which is always one of my goals when I make lists of goals. And thanks for the link to Gary’s flickr, his photos are amazing and I’ll probably be a little sad for a couple days now that I don’t live in LA.
When I was at farm:table the people hanging out at the communal table were mostly middle aged yuppie types. Also not especially appealing. I have not been back, even though the food is tempting, there are easier places to get acceptable coffee and good food.